FreeCAD: Open-source 3D parametric modeler • Hacker News Board

Re: FreeCAD: Open-source 3D parametric modeler

#11

Post by phoenix3200 » Fri, Feb 04, 2022, 8:51 PM UTC

imglorp wrote: post #5

emergentstate wrote: post #2

I have pretty mixed feelings about FreeCAD, having used it for 100+ hours across a few different projects. It’s wonderful to have a open-source alternative to the expensive CAD software that muscled its way into a near monopoly in academia/industry, but it suffers from some really inexcusable design problems, on a fundamental level. As it is, I don’t think it’s really usable as a serious tool for creating complex ass…

Curious if you have compared to SolveSpace?

Wow, that looks like what I may be after!

Re: FreeCAD: Open-source 3D parametric modeler

#12

Post by jackyinger » Fri, Feb 04, 2022, 8:56 PM UTC

phoenix3200 wrote: post #10

jackyinger wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My complaint is that it is extremely modal and as a result not very friendly, not intuitive even to a relatively experienced CAD user. I’ve used a variety of CAD and it just really didn’t click. I know it’s open source, so not going to be as UX oriented, but still. I would love to be proved wrong. If there’s something I’m missing please share.

I found OpenSCAD to be very friendly for parametric designs, but after a while I switched to the SolidPython wrapper as it was more flexible. However, I'm hunting for a better way to create 3d models via code (Blender Python?) because 'extrude_along_path'->SolidPython->OpenSCAD->stl export simply could not handle my model.

OpenSCAD is great in some ways, but the fact that everything gets boils straight to triangles drives me nuts. If there were an OpenSCAD equivalent to work with boundary representation models I’d have found my CAD nirvana.

Re: FreeCAD: Open-source 3D parametric modeler

#13

Post by chasd00 » Fri, Feb 04, 2022, 8:59 PM UTC

i've used FreeCAD but didn't like the UI so then I switched to OnShape. I used OnShape for a while but then switched over to Fusion360 because the vast majority of the people in my hobby ( amateur rocketry ) use Fusion360. Using the same tool as everyone else really helps when asking questions and reading tips/tricks.

Re: FreeCAD: Open-source 3D parametric modeler

#14

Post by somat » Fri, Feb 04, 2022, 9:02 PM UTC

etskinner wrote: post #6

I can't wait to see FreeCAD or something like it mature into something on the level of Blender. The problem seems to be that other free-ish CAD software exists out there, so there's not much demand. Another problem seems to be that overlap between people interested in solid modeling and people able to program for solid modeling is very small. For sculpting, Blender actually does pretty well. And for parametric solid…

Note that almost by definition a programmatic interface to cad makes it parametric. The parameters are now in the program.

Re: FreeCAD: Open-source 3D parametric modeler

#15

Post by dekhn » Fri, Feb 04, 2022, 9:03 PM UTC

I started with FreeCAD and got pretty good at it. it's a fairly capable system although the UI can have some issues.

At some point I started hitting up against a collection of problems and finally paid for Fusion 360. It was completely transformative. I'd be pretty impressed if FreeCAD can catch up to where Fusion 360 is today (in basic shape modelling, advanced shape modelling, and mesh modelling, as well as CNC toolpathing).

Re: FreeCAD: Open-source 3D parametric modeler

#16

Post by floatboth » Fri, Feb 04, 2022, 9:04 PM UTC

phoenix3200 wrote: post #10

jackyinger wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My complaint is that it is extremely modal and as a result not very friendly, not intuitive even to a relatively experienced CAD user. I’ve used a variety of CAD and it just really didn’t click. I know it’s open source, so not going to be as UX oriented, but still. I would love to be proved wrong. If there’s something I’m missing please share.

I found OpenSCAD to be very friendly for parametric designs, but after a while I switched to the SolidPython wrapper as it was more flexible. However, I'm hunting for a better way to create 3d models via code (Blender Python?) because 'extrude_along_path'->SolidPython->OpenSCAD->stl export simply could not handle my model.

CadQuery should be better as it is using the OpenCASCADE cad kernel (same as FreeCAD) instead of a simplistic ad-hoc thingy.

Re: FreeCAD: Open-source 3D parametric modeler

#17

Post by jackyinger » Fri, Feb 04, 2022, 9:05 PM UTC

haberman wrote: post #7

jackyinger wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My complaint is that it is extremely modal and as a result not very friendly, not intuitive even to a relatively experienced CAD user. I’ve used a variety of CAD and it just really didn’t click. I know it’s open source, so not going to be as UX oriented, but still. I would love to be proved wrong. If there’s something I’m missing please share.

I've experienced that user unfriendliness too. I'm not at all an expert in this, I'm a FreeCAD newbie that has been trying to decide whether to invest in learning FreeCAD or not. I keep wishing that FreeCAD had the UI polish of Blender, and ask myself if Blender can do enough of the CAD workflows that it makes sense to learn Blender instead of FreeCAD. I keep reading that technically speaking, mesh-based modelers are…

Mesh modeling in blender has similar downfalls to OpenSCAD. When you’re designing a bit of precision equipment (or what have you) you don’t want your circles turned into high degree polygons.

Can a lathe turn a polygon? Can a drill drill a polygonal hole? Maybe you can machine a polygon on a fancy CNC lathe, but you certainly wouldn’t do so for a turbine shaft.

Also for less precise things, say construction, you care about dimensions. Select an arc to get it’s radius for instance.

This is why design for traditional construction techniques best done in boundary representations: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boundary_representation

I will concede that one can easily create nasty insoluble problems with boundary representations if not familiar with the limitations of splines, but this only really is a problem with curvy things like ship’s hulls and aircraft.

Re: FreeCAD: Open-source 3D parametric modeler

#18

Post by eindiran » Fri, Feb 04, 2022, 9:08 PM UTC

haberman wrote: post #7

jackyinger wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My complaint is that it is extremely modal and as a result not very friendly, not intuitive even to a relatively experienced CAD user. I’ve used a variety of CAD and it just really didn’t click. I know it’s open source, so not going to be as UX oriented, but still. I would love to be proved wrong. If there’s something I’m missing please share.

I've experienced that user unfriendliness too. I'm not at all an expert in this, I'm a FreeCAD newbie that has been trying to decide whether to invest in learning FreeCAD or not. I keep wishing that FreeCAD had the UI polish of Blender, and ask myself if Blender can do enough of the CAD workflows that it makes sense to learn Blender instead of FreeCAD. I keep reading that technically speaking, mesh-based modelers are…

There is no downside in my opinion to learning a bit of OpenSCAD, FreeCAD, and Blender and reaching for the right tool when you need it. Personally, I have found the UI/UX of FreeCAD painful to use, but it is sufficient for most of my CAD needs. And after Fusion 360 crippled their hobbyist licensing, I don't really want to get in bed with any of the non-free CAD tools.

Re: FreeCAD: Open-source 3D parametric modeler

#19

Post by jackyinger » Fri, Feb 04, 2022, 9:09 PM UTC

floatboth wrote: post #16

phoenix3200 wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I found OpenSCAD to be very friendly for parametric designs, but after a while I switched to the SolidPython wrapper as it was more flexible. However, I'm hunting for a better way to create 3d models via code (Blender Python?) because 'extrude_along_path'->SolidPython->OpenSCAD->stl export simply could not handle my model.

CadQuery should be better as it is using the OpenCASCADE cad kernel (same as FreeCAD) instead of a simplistic ad-hoc thingy.

Thanks for pointing this out! Looks pretty useful, will give it a shot.

Re: FreeCAD: Open-source 3D parametric modeler

#20

Post by sen » Fri, Feb 04, 2022, 9:09 PM UTC

I love the idea of FreeCAD so much that I committed pretty much a month to doing all my newer projects in it, watching tutorials, etc… and in the end had to give up and go back to Fusion 360.

I’m not some long term die-hard F360 fan either, just a casual hobbyist maker who uses all sorts of tools (I still regularly just whip things up in Tinkercad for the printers) but FreeCAD is just so damn hard to get things from your head to the screen. It feels like you’re constantly trying to fit square pegs into round holes just to do basic things.